Is Chesley concerned about the taxpayers?

Published 1:00 am, Tuesday, March 7, 2006

I couldn't help but laugh when I read the March 2 News-Times article indicating Bethel's $25.3 million high school project may now include unanticipated upgrades.

Schools Superintendent
Gary Chesley
was quoted as saying, "This was never in the scope of the project. It's unfair to the taxpayers."

When has this administrator, or for that matter, our
Board of Education
, ever been sensitive to the needs of Bethel's taxpayers?

Last year, after a raucous budget battle, Chesley and his cheerleaders on the school board implemented a pay-to-play sports program, putting an additional financial burden on parents.

At that same meeting that they voted to punish parents with this action, they went on to award the superintendent a raise and $4,000 bonus to his $150,000-plus salary, and also reward him with an additional 12 percent annuity above and beyond his salary.

Over the last three years, the superintendent's salary alone increased by $19,505 (a 15.75 percent increase).

Superintendent "It's unfair to the taxpayers" Chesley also built in $43,092 for travel/conferences, $125,000 for telephones (including cell phones for administrators) and $83,905 in raises for his administrators to his 2005-06 budget.

I wish Superintendent Chesley had the same concern for taxpayers when it came to the salaries, benefits and perks awarded to him and his administrators, as he supposedly does when it comes to upgrades to the high school that will actually benefit the students.